Denture grinder



Dec. 13,1927. 1,652,818

R. H. DOWNING DENTURE GRINDER Filed March 13. 1926 2/gheets-Sheet 2 ROBERT/5500 wN/NG ,4v-'TopNews' Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES ROBERT H. DOXVNING, ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA.

DEN TURE GRIN DER.

Application filed March 13, 1926.

This invention relates generally to means for operating dental articulators, and is particularly directed to a device adapted to be non-positively connected with, and provides means whereby dililerent-ial motions may be communicated to an articulator, whereby the movable part of the articulator can be translated horizont-ally forwardly and backwardly, laterally vertically, and given substantially rotary motion.

An object is to provide a power operable device, certain elements of which can be lengthened or shortened to abuttingly engage with 'the movable member of the articulator in certain desired relations to obtain the motions above mentioned.

In a 'device of this kind, it is desirable that the articulator bequickly attached or detached, and disposed and adjusted in relation to its operating device, and it is further desirable that certain length adjustments 0115 the operating members be had to obtain substantially universal differential movements; of the movable member of the articulator, according to the work in hand.

The features of the invention relate to the general mode of operation of the device, as we'll as to the detail structure of the various parts per se, and in combination.

An important feature of the invention relates to a translatable adjustable cam engaging device carried by a translatable articulator engaging member, the adjustable device having anti-friction members thereon adjustable for alternate engagement with one or the other of cams carried by a rotating member, adapting the articulator engaging member to be given motions of a character desired for the work in hand.

In the accompanying drawings forming part ot' the 'specification- Figure 1 is a plan section showing the device set for obtaining substantial simultaneous movement of the articulator operating elements in the same direction;

Figure 2 is a side elevation corresponding to Figure 1, the clamping member being shown in section;

Figure 3 is a plan section corresponding to Figure 1 showing the high points of the inner and outer cams engagedwith the translatable member.

Figure 4 is a plan section showing the Serial No. 94,521.

lying substantially in the same horizontalV plane. Rotatably jeurnaled in the cross member 8 is a shaft 11 at the outer end of which is non-rotatably secured a pulley-like element 12, providing a peripheral belt groove 13. This rotatable element 12 has formed integrally therewith, on one of its faces, two circular cams mutually concentric, and concentric with the axis of rotation of the element 12. The cams are contigurated for action in a direction parallel to the rotative axis of the element 12 and therefore parallel with the axes of the bearing bores 'of the cross members 9, 10. In this instance,`

see Figure 3, the high and low points of the cams are aligned on a common diameter, and the low point 15 of the outer cam lies adjacent the high point 17 of the inner cam, while at the opposite side of the rotative axis of the element- 12, or at the opposite side of the journal 11, the high point 16 of the outer cam lies adjacent to the low point 18 of the inner cam. Thus, when certain translatable members described below, are operatively engaged with the outer cam said members are substantially reciprocated in the oppositeY directions, and when one of the members is engaged with the inner cam, said members are substantially simultaneously reciprocated in the same direction.

In each of the cross members 9 and 1() is mounted a translatable element 2O and each element 20 preferably has an extension member adjustably attached thereto. The element 20 is slidably but non-rotatablyheld in itsbearing, and for this purpose each member 2O is provided with a diametrically related. cross pin 21 engageablein a correspending horizontally disposed diametric slot 22 at the outer end oi' the cross member. The connection for preventing rotation or' the member 2O may be made in any preferred manner, however. The toi-ward end ot each member 2O isbored and threaded as at 23 for cooperation with the reduced threaded end 24: of the extension member 26.

A jam nut 25 secures the outer' member after rotatable adjustment. One of the .i members 20 has an anti-friction rollerl 28 rotatable on a horizontally disposed stub sliaft'29, and the periphery of this roller is engageable with or by the outer cam. The element 2O oit the other translatable member has horizontally slidably disposed' at its outer end a diametrically related shaft 35, at each opposite end ot which is rotatably secured an anti-friction roller, outer and inner respectively 36, 37. All rollers preferably have cushioned peripheries, the cush-V ioning being provided in this instance by bands of rubber fitting within peripheral grooves of the rollers.

The distance between the adjustably disposedrollers is greater than the distance between adjacent portions of inner and outer cams, so that when the shaft is slid in its f bearing in a direction diametrically 'ot the cams `or pulley, the outer anti-friction element can be engaged with the outer cam, or

the inner anti-friction element can be engaged with the inner cam, to obtain ditierentiated movements ot the element 20.

The Varrangement is such that` vonly one anti-friction device .is engaged at a time. One of the slidable elements thus has adjustable means thereon engageable with and by either cam whereby the elements can bef-caused to simultaneously reciprocate, respectively in the same, or, opposite directions.

The outer ends oi the length-adjustable translatable'elements, abuttingly engage with the spring-retractable, movable element of the dental articulator described below, which is clampingly held upon the base l by a specially designed clamp. By adjusting the lengths ot the translatable elements virtually any desired movement can be communicated to the movable part oit the articulator, so that the grinding operation can be carried out in exactly the manner desired.

In Figures 3 and 4e positionsot the mov` able portion of the articulator are shown in dotted lines, and as shown in Figure 3, simultaneous movements ot' both sides ot this part, by the translatable elements, are obtained in same direction as the movements y of the translatable elements, which are iin this instance respectively operated-by inner and outer cams. Y In Figure 4i, the device is shown set for obtaining substantially simultaneous movement ot the elements in opposite directions, Vthus obtaining a substantially rotary motion of the movable part of the grinder.

,abut or impinge the movable pari' he present device is designed to actuate an articulator substantially'ot' the design shown, and although the articulator per se forms only an auxiliary part ot' the apparatus, some idea ot' its structure and operation is needed.

The articulator (see Figs. l and 2) comprises a fixed part lfhtwing' a forward ei;- tension il to which a lower holder i2 is attached, and upon the upper side or which holder is mounted a lower set ot teeth 43, to be ground. Extending vertically upwardly from the fixed part Il() are two pins 4:6 alined in a direction at right angles to direction vot reciprocation ot the translatable elements 20. A movable )art overlies the part i0 and pins 46, and has lateral iorward extensions 4"? as guide pieces, each guide piece having two cnrvedsuriiaces 48, i9 arranged at an angle to one another.

A spring is attachedas at 5i to the tired part and has its upper end overlying and 'rictionally and compressingly engaging the part 45 (see Figi). Y

The movable part 45 also has a holder 55 connected thereto, carryingV an upper set ot' teeth 56. The arrangement of upper and lower parts of the articulator is such that the tee-th supported by respective holders, are arranged tor proper occlusion or bite.

When the movable part fifi is translated horizontally by means ofthe impinging elcments 2O against the action or" the spring 50, proper grinding motion between the sets ot teeth 4?), 56 is obtained, and the surfaces ot the guides cause substantially simultaneous movements of the parte-5 horizontally torwardly, backwardly', laterally and vert'cally. Thus when the elements 2O move together upward, forward and backward motions ot the movable part are obtained, and when the elements 2O move in opposite direction lateral rotative motions ot the movable part are obtained, according to the length adjustments ot' the translative elements QU.

lt will be noted thatno positive connes tion between the ends ot the elements Q6 a d guides i7 is necessary, inasmuch as a sp 50 operates to return the n'iovable part an translationrearwardly. Thereiore, the rticulator can be quickly attached and detached.v

In other wo ds, the transiative elements only grinder. Y

In order to positively obtain proper occlusion between the sets ot teeth to be ground, andl in order to permit the Vmovable sect-ion oi the articulator to come to rest during a portion of the grinding cycle, the cams are so coniigurated that no engagement with vor by the anti-triction rollers is possible 'for a short period. This arrangement is shown in Figures l, 2, and lilith this disposition of the.peripheries ot the anti-friction elements in relation to the cams, action upon the elements will, or

Yot the' course, not be continuous'but inasmuch as the cams are herein virtually inclined to planes, the lost motion will be slight.

The clamping device, which is also a tea` ture ot the invention, comprises a hollow clamping member or boxing 60 open at its clam )ing side, and adapted for engagement at that side with an extension ot the lower or stationary part 40 of the articulator, as shown in Figure 2. The device is adapted for ready placement or removal. The top is centrally slotted as `at 6l to permit the clamp to be translatably engaged with or disengaged trom a screw threaded post (i2 and projecting upwardly from the base 1. The base is provided near that edge remote `trom tbe pulley with upstanding lugs 63,

with which the outer lower side of the clamp is abuttingly engaged. A wing nut 65 secures the device in operative position, and when it is desired to remove the clamp, the wing nut 65 is loosened, and that side of the clamp engaged with the lugs is raised to clear the same. The clamp, as before stated, is then moved in a direction lon# gitudinally of the base from engagement with the extension of the fixed part 40 of the articulator, the slot G1 allowing this withdrawal. I

I claim as my invention:

1. A device ot the class described comprising a pulley having cams thereon contigurated for. action in direction parallel with t-he axis of rotation of the pulley, and a translatable element operable by the cam having adjustable cam engaging IOHQFS thereon movable in unison for alternate engagement with a respective cam.

2. In a device of the class described a pulley havingcams thereon conigurated for action in direction parallel with the axis of rotation of the pulley, elements translatably mounted adjacent the pulley, one of said elements having thereon a shaft adjustable diametrically thereof, said shaft having a cam engaging roller at each end, and said shaft translatable for alternately engaging a rolier with a respective cam.

3. In a device of the class described, a rotatable member having cams thereon, con` tigurated for action in the same direction, and translatable members having their ends engagable by one ot the cams for reciprocation thereby, one ot said elements having adjustable cam engaging means thereon alternately engageable with either cam.

In a device of the class described, a rotatable member having cams ot unlike configuration and members translatably mounted, having ends engageable by the cams for simultaneous reciprocation thereby,

said translatable members having extensions adjustably connected therewith.

In a device of the class described, a rotatable element having cams thereon, translatable elements having ends engageable by one of the cams, and shiftable means upon one of the elements for alternate engagement withor by the other cam.

6. In combination with a dental articulator having a movable part, a rotatable element having cams thereon configurated tor action in a direction toward the articulator, translatable elements engageable with and by one cam for reciprocation thereby, and having their ends abuttingly engaged with the movable part of said articulator, one of said translatable elements having adjustable cam engaging means thereon adapted to be alternatingly engaged with either cam.

7. In combination with a dental articulator having a. movable part, a rotatable element having cams thereon, translatable elements engageable with and by one cam for reciprocation thereby, and having the ends abuttingly engaged with the movable part of said articulator, one of the elements having adjustable cam engaging means thereon adapted for alternatingly operatively conditioning tion by either cam.

8. In combination with a dental articulator having a movable member, a rotatable element having two adjacently disposed cams contigurated for action in the same direction translatably mounted elements having their ends abuttingly engageable with the cam and having their opposite ends abuttingly engageable with the movable member of the articulator respectively at opposite sides, one of said translatable elements having adjustable means thereon alternately engageable with the cams.

9. In combination with a dental articulator having a movable member, a rotatable element having tWo circular concentric cams, concentric with the axis of the rotation of the element, said cams configurated for action in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the element, translatably mounted elements having their ends engageable with or by the cams and having their opposite ends abutting-ly engaged with the movable element of the artieulator, one of said translatable elements having means thereon adjustable for alternately obtaining movement ot said element by either cam.

10. In combination with a denture grinder, having a spring retracted increasingly movable element, translatable elements abuttingly engaged With the movable element of the grinder, and a rotatable element having cams thereon engageable with the translatable elements for substantially simultaneously moving the same toward and away from the grinder, and means upon one of the elements shiftable for alternate engagements with one of the cams for obtaining substantial simultaneous movement of the elements said element for operaloa in opposite `direct-ion whereby the movable grinder element in one instance .is given a reciprocative motion and in the other a rotative movement.

l1. In a device of the clase described, a ro-' Vtatable elementhaving two circular cams V rection of reciprocation relative to its coinpanion element.

12. A device of the claeedeecribed, a base lia-ving means thereon for clamping` a denture grinder, a pair' of standards oppositely related to said clamping` means, each Ahaving` an element tranelatably mounted thereon, said elemente being parallel and extending` in direction toward Said clamping means and space above said base, a groeved pulley rotatably mountedV intermediate ot said v ele-- ments with its aXisvo rotation parallel with direction of reciprocationot the elements, said pulley having cams thereon mutually concentric and concentric with theV axis of rotation of the pulley, adaptedto engage or to be engaged by said rec-iprocable elemente, and adjustable means upon one oi the re ciprocable elements alternately engageable with one of the cams, whereby by adjustment Vol said means, simultaneous reciprocatory movements ,of the elements in the same and in oppositedirection canbe obtained.

123. A device of the class described com raising came inea/'able in unieon, and a menibertranelatable by the cams, and having Vcam engaging elements adjustable in unison ior alternately engaging the cams to cause translation of the member. Y

in witness whereof, lhave hereunto set my hand this 11th day oMarch, 1926.

ROBERT H. DOVNING. 

